During the World Cup Group B match between Qatar and Switzerland on Saturday, June 13, 2026, thousands of empty seats were visible throughout Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The stadium, which can be expanded to hold more than 70,000 for soccer, saw many vacant seats on the east side, an area that typically becomes very hot. Swiss fans wearing bright red clothing blended in with the red seats. The match took place on an unseasonably warm afternoon with a kickoff temperature of approximately 82 degrees Fahrenheit. While tailgating is not permitted for World Cup matches at Levi’s Stadium, entry was described as smooth with small lines forming several hours before kickoff. FIFA previously attributed empty seats during a different match in Guadalajara to fans watching from the concourses. The tournament has seen significant logistical observations across various venues. In Los Angeles, the United States defeated Paraguay 4-1 on Friday. While that match featured visible clusters of empty seats, it was described as an electric celebration. Observations from the Los Angeles match noted heavy security presence, including armed officers and sniffer dogs, as well as high costs for food and beverages. Also, fans were advised to use the official FIFA app for ticket validation and to be aware of “suffocating” traffic gridlock. Regarding ticket sales, FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that over 6 million tickets had been sold as of June 10, calling the demand “unprecedented.” However, some matches remained unsold as of June 12. Experts noted that the 2026 tournament is the most expansive in history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches. The tournament also introduced dynamic pricing for the first time, leading to various investigations and complaints regarding high costs for fans.